Leeds city centre pub knifeman locked up

Tony Gardner

A MAN who was armed with a knife in a Leeds city centre pub as he approached couples and asked them for cash has been jailed.

John Jarrett, 53, was sent to prison for 20 weeks over his behaviour in Yates’s Wine Lodge, Boar Lane, on July 31 this year.

Leeds Crown Court heard Jarrett approached a married couple in the bar area and began talking to them.

Duncan Ritchie, prosecuting, said Jarrett struck up a conversion, asking them where they were from and why they were in Leeds.

Jarrett then said “have you seen what I’ve got” before holding out his arm to reveal the weapon, which was up his sleeve. Jarrett then asked for money and was given a five pound note. The couple asked him to stay away from them.

Mr Ritchie said Jarrett then began moving around the bar talking to other couples until his behaviour came to the attention of the bar manager.

Jarrett became abusive when he was asked to leave. The manager called police when he noticed the weapon.

Officers arrested Jarrett a short distance from the pub. The weapon, a serrated kitchen knife, was found in a bin nearby. Jarrett, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.

He has previous convictions for possession of an offensive weapon.

Michael Walsh, mitigating, said Jarrett was homeless at the time of the incident. He said his client went into the pub and took the knife from a plate of steak and chips that had been left on a table. He said: “For reasons he can’t explain he ended up with the knife on his person and he left the pub with it.”

Mr Walsh added: “He needs to address issues that he has with alcohol. On most occasions he does not pose any threat - he’s a nuisance.”